IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published by the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS reveals how the new RAD Board in Queensland has thrown out a six month disqualification imposed on a Townsville owner and stable-hand over a controversial assault charge.
He also reports on a protest hearing being held at Cluden one week after correct weight was declared in the race in question. It was a mistake that the stewards admit shouldn’t have occurred.
Here is the Butts’ column:
NEW RAD BOARD THROWS OUT CONTROVERSIAL ASSAULT PENALTY ON STABLEHAND
FORMER judge Bill Carter – new chairman of the Racing And Disciplinary Board – has thrown out the charge and penalty against Cluden stable-hand and owner Shane ‘Unit’ Colahan who was disqualified in August for six months following an alleged assault on a trainer during trackwork.
Colahan, partner of top Cluden trainer Olivia Cairns was disqualified by Racing Queensland stewards who found him guilty of the assault on trainer Bill Kenning on July 17.
But Judge Carter last Friday set aside the penalty and found there had been ‘bad blood’ between the two stables and that there was ‘confusion in the scenario’.
He found that stewards had miscarried their inquiry, and that Colahan, in the totality of evidence, should be allowed to change his plea of guilty.
He directed the matter be sent back to Racing Queensland’s Licensing Department to decide on any further action, if any.
LONG DRAWN-OUT INQUIRY ENDS IN EMBARRASSMENT FOR STEWARDS
TOWNSVILLE stewards commenced the long drawn-out inquiry on July 18 and it was continued on August 5 and 6.
Evidence over the two days was taken from stablehands Julie Bell, Ray Fitzgerald, Bond Robbins, Reegan Jackson, trainer Kerry Baumann, jockeys Frank Edwards, Jamie Long, Emma Ljung, Townsville Turf Club officials Michael Charge and Darlene McKenzie, and farrier Shane Raymont.
The inquiry resumed on August 3 and Colahan was charged after stewards found that he had: ‘Improperly conducted himself by physically assaulting trainer W. Kenning by striking him on a number of occasions in the area of the head’.
Stewards disqualified Colahan for six months and stated that Kenning had not breached any Rule.
Stewards also gave careful consideration to the actions of Robbins and were unable to determine if these ‘had fallen below what is acceptable of a licensed trainer’.
He was given the benefit of the doubt.
PROTEST TO BE HEARD A WEEK AFTER ‘CORRECT WEIGHT’ WAS DECLARED
CONFUSION reigns over the result of the final race at Cluden on Tuesday of last week.
David Simmons on the runner-up, Boom Sha La, indicated to stewards that he wished to view the film before deciding whether or not to protest.
But ‘correct weight’ was inadvertently signalled and broadcast before Simmons could view the film.
Chief Steward on the day, Brisbane-based Ian Brown, telephoned Cairns owner Ron Koch after the incident to apologize.
Bookies paid out on the winner but prize-money has been withheld until after the protest hearing which will be heard this Tuesday (October 1) before the first at Cluden.
Here is the official report:
‘Upon returning to scale Jockey Simmons as the rider of BOOM SHA LA indicated to the Chairman of Stewards that he wished to review the patrol footage to ascertain if he had grounds to lodge an objection against EUREKA DUBAI being declared the winner on the basis of interference suffered during the middle stages of the race.
After weighing the remaining placegetters correct weight was mistakenly provided to the on course announcer. The mistake was realised immediately following this and an attempt was made to recall the announcement of correct weight. However, the announcement of correct weight had already been broadcast.
Therefore wagering on the race had commenced to be finalized and as such no objection was heard. This incident was reported to Mr Daniel Aurisch, as the Deputy Chief Steward of Racing Queensland, following the race meeting and will be reviewed with a report to be forthcoming.’
THE ARABS ARE COMING AND THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE RACING MINISTER
THE ARABS are coming – and you had better believe it.
It has been a long hard struggle with a lot of opposition from one major section of the racing industry (not jockeys, trainers or bookmakers, by the way) but according to the head of NARA, the Arabian Racing body in Australia, Maureen Milburn, it is ‘all coming together’.
She is expecting more racing venues in Victoria and NSW next year as well as Queensland where interest is ‘growing by the day’.
She says she has a real ally in the Racing Minister Steve Dickson who is ‘right behind us’ and so too is the Racing Queensland CEO Darren Condon.
Caulfield has been the venue for Australia’s biggest Arabian horse race for the past two years but this year it will be on the Gold Coast.
Two $30,000 races over 1400m will be decided under the banner of the Arab-owned Shadwell Stud, with another feature race at Kilmore in Victoria on October 13.
North Queensland has had three races this year but more tracks are expected to come on line next year.
Mareeba attributes this bulging of race day crowds to the introduction of Arabian horses that attract a lot of followers.
ARABIAN RACING FULLY INTEGRATED IN THE REST OF THE WORLD
ARABIAN racing is fully integrated with the thoroughbred events at racecourses in UK, US, Europe and of course the Middle East.
Melbourne’s Nikita McLean (Berriman) this year won a feature at Qatar on an Arabian horse and returns to compete in the Arabian World Cup next month. But she won’t be riding at the Gold Coast – because she is not allowed.
Nor will there be any betting on the Gold Coast race. It is also forbidden too, while in Victoria bookies are permitted to bet and they report tremendous betting interest.
“Money talks,” said Maureen.
“We believe betting will be allowed and professional jockeys will be permitted to ride.
“At the moment it is all to do with insurance. But oddly enough we are insured with the same company that insures Queensland Racing’s licensees.
And why not?
A week after he won the Melbourne Cup on Americain, jockey Gerald Mosse won a feature Arabian race in France and a race set aside for the breed is run every year at Longchamp on Prix d’ Arc Triomphe day.
Australia is recognised as having the best endurance horses in the world.
There is a potentially large and virtually untapped export market out there for the Arabian racehorses too.
It is only Australia and New Zealand that is reluctant to follow the international trend to promote and encourage and integrate Arabian horse racing with the thoroughbreds.
You really do…wonder why - protectionism perhaps?
COLUMN COURTESY OF TERRY BUTTS AND THE NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, one of Australia's leading rural newspapers.
TERRY BUTTS can be contacted by e-mailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
